Liquid-level indicator



June 29 1926.

R. c'. RUTZKE LIQUID LEVEL INDICATOR Filed Oct. 6. 1922 BY n AT ORNEY- Patented June 29, 1926.

UNITED STATES RUDOIEH C. R'UTZKE, OF ST. LOUIS,,,MISSOURI.

LIQUID-LEVEL INDICATOR.

Application filed October 6, 1922. Serial N0.'592,726.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and eflicient oil level ind1- cator for the crank-case of internal-combustion engines that employs thesplash system of lubrication.

This device can, also, be utilized in other locations.

It is more particularly adapted for the Ford, Chevrolet, and similar kinds of motor cars and for motor cars having oil gages with two cocks.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which like numbers of reference denote like parts wher ever they occur.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved liquid level indicator.

- Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same.

The device is attached by a threaded elbow or coupling 1 to the opening at the bottom of the crank-case (not shown) from which the cranlr-caseis customarily drained, the outer arm 2 of the elbow 1 being in threaded connection with the pipe 3, leading to the elbow 4, which is in threaded connection with the said pipe 3, and, also, with pipe 5.

A nipple 6 extending from the bottom of cup 7, containing chamber 8, is adapted to be moved in either direction on the thread 9 on pipe 5 and to be locked in any position thereon by lock-nut 10.

Screw plug 11 closes an opening in elbow 2, but is removed therefrom when it is desired to drain the crank-case.

A cap 12 for cup 7 is internally provided with shoulder 13, which rests on the upper edge 1a of cup 7, flange 15 depending below shoulder 13 and closely engaging the outer part of the side wall of cup 7.

Pipe 16 is externally threaded, so as to co-operate with threads within nipple 1T, borne by cap 12, so that cap 12 and cup 7 are vertically adjustable on pipe 16 the san e as on pipe 5, this adjustability being for the purpose of allowing latitude for different makes of machines or variations at diflerent times in the same machine. A lock-nut 18 above nipple 17 co-operates with lock-nut 10 below nipple 6, the two conjointly holding the cup 7 stationary after it has been accurately adjusted to the particular machine to which it is attached.

The pipe or hollow rod 16 passes through a hole in the fixed or relatively stationary part 19,0f the hood or any other suitable comparatively immovable part of the machine, and after all adjustments have been made the pipe 16 is locked in position relative to the said member 19 by the lower lock nut 20 and the upper lock-nut 21. By the means of attachment herein described, namely, the passage of pipe 16 through member 19, the use of lock-nuts 20 and 21, and the screw-threaded attachments of elbow 1 to the crank-case, this device is so attached to the machine as not to rattle and to be absolutely secure.

A gage-rod 22, having a head 23, is adapted to slide lengthwise through pipe 16 and through an opening in cap 24:, preferably screw-threadedly attached to the upper end of pipe 16.

A float 25 is borne by the lower end o'lt rod 22, the lower extremity of which rod 22 is preferably screw-threaded, so that threaded washers or nuts 26 and 27 will hold float 25 upon rod 22. A tit or tits 28 upon the floor of cup 7 and a tit or tits 29 projecting within cap 12 prevent float 25 from binding either upon the floor of cup 7 or against cap 12, allowing the vmovement of the oil ind1- cated by the oi1-level line 30 readily to move float 25 in either direction, according to the height of the oil-level 30.

A small hole is pierced through flange 15 and through the upper part of the wall of cup 7 and permits the passage therethrough of the pin 31 having the head 32, which pin 31 fastens cap 12 to cup 7. A threaded bushing 33 is inserted in an opening out of cap 12 or at a suitable place in cup 7, and provides a vent for any surplus oil. Too much oil in the crank-case results in its being forced into the cylinders, where it fouls them and from which it makes its way to the spark-plugs, besides'which it causes a smoking engine and other bad results. With this device attached to an engine it acts as an oil equalizer as well as an oil gage and indicator, because whenever there is any excess oil in the crank-case it automatically makes its escape through the vent provided by the bushing 33.

The eye of the operator will take note of the height of the head 23, which is carried up or down by the floating higher or lower of float 25, the elevation or lowering of which depends upon the height of the oillevel 30. The oil level 30 depends upon the oil-level within the crank-case to which this BXCUSQ When-this device is used,

device is attached, on the principle that a liquid always seeks its own level, and the oil-level Within cup is necessarily the same as the oil-level Withint-he crank-ease.

This device is so arranged that even when the oil-level 30 is at its lowest, as apprenh mately shown in Figure 2, there remains enough oil in use cran hoase-to alloiv the engine to run a considerable length of time thereafter Without burning the hearings of the crankshaft.

i' i hen the float is higher in cup 7 than is shown in Figure the head indie-ates that'there is more oil in the crank-ease, and by Watching-the height of head above cap 24% the operator notes with accuracy approximately how much longer the engine can he run Without d to thebearings and Withoutthe V n of oil in the eran lrcase 1t WBll lZDOWD that-one of the greatest sources-of injury to internal-combustion engines, particularly those used in motor vehides motor boats, aeroplanes, and the like,

A b 1 tor rrl'iieh there can-be neither reason or it ogerates with nert is the burn n out of crankshaft-hearings easily, ai'itomatically, a "d and precision.

Having thus describe: this ii-mention, i hereby reserve the benefit of all Changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of PZII'tSydS it is evident that'many minor ch-angesmay he made therein Without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the following claim.

I claim: A liquid level indicator conip'risirrgaan 01] cup having a central opening in the bottom 7 thereof and an external nipple extending from tile hottom'thereof in line with the cen trail-opening in the bottom oi the cup, said the lip-1.01- edge o't the cup and a flange depending heloxv the shoulder and closely renthe-side Wall of theeup; a'nipple formed integral with thesaid eap antlertending upwardly from the top :of the cap in line .a'iththe central openingtherein, said ipple being internally threaded; an .oilpipe in threaded connection with the nipple of the said cup; a tube threaded ex ternaily "for the greater portion-oi its-length and lia -wing the lower end of its threaded ert'ion in threaded eonneetion With-the nipple-.01? the said cap; a float in the odor-p; a stem easrried h the float and ext-ending newardly through the said tube; saidtnhe and saic oil-teed pipe heing normally fined and stationary relative to oneanother and the said cap and ca p-being adjustable there-- on; and removable looking pin eng'sage'ldin alignei'l, openings in the of the cap and the upper part of the wallet the cup and serving to fasten the saidxcap to the said Cup.

In testimony whereof I hereunto 'altix my signature. 7

RUDOLPH C. "BUT-ZK E. 

